Perceived ecological risk and the related political battles over access—not a lack of technology and operating know-how—will be the key challenges to accelerating the development of remote, high-cost Arctic oil and gas resources.

The industry is expanding its view of this technology’s applications, with a shift toward incorporating expandables into the primary design of the well rather than just using them as contingency systems.

Controlling the effects of geochemical interactions between the shale and the fracturing fluids has helped shale gas operators preserve reservoir communication to the wellbore, reduce sour gas potential and tailor flowback water for reuse.

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) awarded George P. Mitchell, former Chairman of Mitchell Energy & Development Corp., a Lifetime Achievement Award for pioneering drilling and completion technologies that created the shale gas revolution.